WHAT IS THE BTSA?

The Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment is a questionnaire intended to help the user to: increase their understanding of themselves of others and to more specifically understand in what type of

work their brain is best suited.

What is the BTSA?

Research shows that: there are significant mental and physical

health impacts as a result of not matching your job and your tasks to your primary brain style.

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Dr. Benziger partnered with a neurosurgeon to study brain research done through MRI’s and PET scans.

10,000 people were scanned over 10 years to determine what area of the brain is dedicated for what functions.

What is MRI?

Magnetic ResonanceImaging: a diagnostic procedure that

uses a non-invasive, magnetic field to provide three-dimensional images of internal body structures, especially the brain and spinal cord.

WHY UNDERSTAND BRAIN TYPE?

Understanding your own brain type, and therefore your natural strengths and weaknesses, is helpful for:

self-development managing relationships managing teams and generally being as

fulfilled in life as we can be

WHY UNDERSTAND BRAIN TYPE?

Knowing your own strengths gives you confidence to take on responsibilities and projects in your own skill areas.

Knowing your own weaknesses shows you where you need to seek help and advice.

WHY UNDERSTAND BRAIN TYPE?

The Brain Type model also explains very clearly that hardly anyone is good at everything.

And, even those who are, have other issues and challenges that result from their multi-skilled nature.

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT

Before we begin to look at the Benziger Assessment and Model, please review the next 4 slides and let me know which of the four designs you resonate with the most:(Rita@SterlingInsights.com)

DESIGN #1

DESIGN #2

DESIGN #3

DESIGN #4

Okay, now it is time to let me know which design you relate to the most.

Send me an email at: Rita@SterlingInsights.com

Thanks!

BTSA (Benziger Thinking Styles Assessment)

It’s time to take the test. Click this link: http://bloomingnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Brain-Styles-Test.pdf and print out the document - fill out and score according to directions listed.

WHERE DID THIS TEST COME FROM?

Dr. Katherine Benziger www.benziger.org

There is additional information at: www.businessballs.com

I highly recommend this book and Dr. Benziger’s more in-depth test: https://benziger.org/carrito-en/product-view.php?p=29

NOW, PLEASE SEND ME YOUR SCORES FOR:

Mode I, Mode II, Mode III, & Mode IV

Thanks!

Rita@SterlingInsights.com

When we come together, you will discover what your scores mean and learn some additional

information about thinking styles.

Overview of the Benziger Model

Traditional View &

Dr. Benziger Research

Here’s a Graphic of the Traditional Left/Right Brain Model

Analytical Creative

(Classic understanding of the brain)

Left Brain Right Brain(Another neat diagram of left-right brain for those of you who like art)

Katherine Benziger’s research identified additional areas.

Instead of just right & left, it’s a bit more complex.

You need to consider the front and back along with the right and left sides of the brain.

Frontal RightVision &

Creativity

Vision &

Creativity

Basal RightIntuitio

n &

EmpathyIntuitio

n &

Empathy

Frontal Left

Logic &

ResultsLogic &

Results

Basal Left

Process &

Routine

Process &

Routine

It’s more like there are 4 quadrants of specialization.

Benziger Modes & Their Functions:

INTUITION & EMPATHY

VISION & CREATIVITY

LOGIC & RESULTS

PROCESS & ROUTINE

Each quadrant is a specialized type of thinking. Each quadrant attends to very different information.

The Brain

Sample result of online test through Dr. Benziger’s website:

Note: There is one and only one quadrant that is our natural preference.

But, we all use some of each quadrant to survive and thrive.

Preference vs. Competency:

If your brain “preference” is Mode 2, Basal Right, then it is easier to develop competencies in the two adjacent areas (1 & 3)…

If your “preference” (brain quadrant dominance) is Mode 2, for example, there is 100 times more electrical resistance to use the other 3 quadrants (#1,3,4).

…and more difficult to go diagonally to develop competencies.

Quadrant Dominance

Benziger says that people can have one and only one natural lead in which their brain is naturally efficient.

They can and often do develop competencies in other modes (quadrants).

When they do this in practice they will be using more areas of their brain, and also, when they do this, the competencies outside their natural lead are always very draining.

Falsifying Type

This is the term used by Carl Jung (famous psychologist) to

describe what he witnessed about people who were not

living their true nature.

What does it mean to falsify type?

Dr. Carl Gustav Jung originally coined the term Falsification of Type to describe an individual whose most developed and/or used skills were outside one’s area of greatest natural preference.

http://www.benziger.org/articles/physfalsoftype.php

In his writing, Dr. Jung stated that he believed the problem to be a serious one

with both practical and psychological ramifications. Indeed, Jung saw Falsification

of Type as “a violation of their natural disposition…”

The MRI’s/PET scans show that the brain “heats up” when using the 3 non-preferred quadrants which is detrimental to one’s health over time when overused.

The Costs of Falsifying Type (overuse of any of the other 3 quadrants)

1. Fatigue

2. Hyper-vigilance

3. Immune system alterations

4. Memory impairment

5. Altered brain chemistry

6. Diminished frontal lobe functions

7. Discouragement and or depression

8. Self-esteem problems

Focus On Falsifying Type

Dr. Benziger, through her research and model, places greatest emphasis on 'wellness' and the need to help people avoid 'falsifying' their true type.

Benziger says that very many people 'falsify type', so as to fit into a role or career path that might not be right for them, which has a negative impact on health, happiness and personal effectiveness.

PASS (Prolonged Adaption Stress Syndrome)

The long-term result of Falsifying Type, a discovery made in collaboration with Dr. Arlene Taylor

Dr. Arlene Taylor

“Falsifying Type is so costly that over time it can lead to the development of a syndrome identified by Dr. Arlene Taylor, as PASS or Prolonged Adaption Stress Syndrome. Significantly, one element of PASS is the experience, seemingly without cause, of chronic depression.”

Introversion & Extraversion

Second Aspect of

Benziger Research

INTROVERSION & EXTRAVERSION

ExtravertedIntroverted

7 Out of 10 Fall Somewhere In-between

15% 15%

3 Out of 10 People are at the Extreme

Lets look at a scale of introversion and extraversion…

(Easier for the 70% to flex)

BRAIN RESEARCH – What was discovered:

ExtravertedIntroverted

The extreme introvert has a “Hyper-alert Arousal Level Brain”

The extreme extravert has a “Low Arousal Level Brain”

Upon awakening and then throughout the day…

Benziger Modes & Their Functions:

INTUITION & EMPATHY

VISION & CREATIVITY

LOGIC & RESULTS

PROCESS & ROUTINE

In each mode/ quadrant, there are introverted and extraverted people. Click to see Mode 2 as an example

ExtravertedIntroverted

INTROVERSION & EXTRAVERSION

ExtravertedIntroverted

For example, when the extravert gets stressed,

Each person has their own “set point” they are born with but circumstances can temporarily change one’s level of introversion or extraversion.

they need to retreat to a lower level of extraverted behavior

after which they will return to their “set point”.

More Explanation re: Introversion

“Those of us who are mentally highly aroused take in much more information second per second than the average person and may subsequently need to diminish or limit the “volume” of the stimulation around us. This leads others to see us as introverted. This is because, being so highly aroused, introverts tend to "overload" more readily, especially in highly stimulating (noisy, varied, colorful, eventful) environments.

When this happens, introverts tend to close down in order to control or to limit the level of incoming stimulation and to make sense of everything they have already taken in.”

More Explanation re: Extraversion By contrast, those of us who are only minimally aroused take in

much less information second per second than the average person and may subsequently need to augment or increase the “volume” of the stimulation around us. This leads others to see us as extraverted. This is because, being only minimally aroused, extraverts tend to not think clearly or even fall asleep if they do not receive more stimulation from the outside environment.

For this reason, extraverts are commonly found increasing the volume of stimulation in their environment. They turn on the TV and radio. They open the door and invite the dogs and or children to come in. They turn on the radio while reading, or move to a noisy place to read.

Additional Insights Into Each Quadrant

Basal Lefts

Descriptors: Cautious, conservative, detailed, procedural, sequential

Skills: Holding to deadlines and schedules, monitoring, performing routine or

procedural tasks, whether operational or administrative, proof-reading Typical Phrases

Let’s go by the book, look in the procedures manual, it’s better to play it safe, law and order are important, we’ve always done it this way, there’s no reason to change, it’s important to establish good habits, self-discipline, what’s the right sequence or order?

Self-Perception: Industrious, productive, reliable, thorough, dependable

As Seen By Others: Boring, grinds out the task, stuck in the mud

Basal Rights

Descriptors Musical, rhythmical, sensitive to nonverbal behaviors, makes eye

contact, speaks with their eyes, spiritual, intuitive about people Skills:

Bridging, encouraging, harmonizing, nurturing, teaching, welcoming, writing personal notes and letters

Typical Phrases: Caring, family human spirit, participation, meaningful, personal growth,

sharing, teamwork Self-Perception:

Deeply caring, concerned person (if extraverted), a deep-feeling person (if introverted)

As Seen By Others: A non-stop talker, a soft-touch, touchy feely

Frontal Rights

Descriptors Artistic, creative, expressive, holistic, intuitive, innovative, spatial,

synthesizing, dreaming, metaphoric, pattern sensitive, sees the biggest picture, is a stacker and/or doodler

Skills: Creative problem-solving, design, making change, seeing the big picture,

seeing the trends and synthesizing ideas and patterns, discovering, inventing, innovating (if extraverted)

Typical Phrases: Conceptual block-busting, being on the cutting edge, playing with an idea,

finding something new, synergistic, all-encompassing systems Self-Perception:

A visionary leader (if extraverted), a visionary thinker (if introverted) As Seen By Others:

A space cadet with his head in the clouds, a dreamer, unfocused, a fool

Frontal Lefts Descriptors

Analytical, decisive, directing, evaluating, factual, logical, mathematical, quantitative, precise

Skills: Decision-making, precision, weighing and measuring, evaluating, prioritizing,

calculating, negotiating, financial problem-solving, technical problem-solving, functional and structural analysis, using precision tools

Typical Phrases: Understanding the key factors, doing a critical analysis, knowing the bottom line,

breaking it down or taking it apart, using leverage, weighing all the variables, maximizing the Return on Investment (ROI)

Self-Perception: A strong, decisive leader (if extraverted), an expert resource (if introverted)

As Seen By Others: Critical, unemotional and uncaring, power-focused, calculating and manipulative,

hard, cool, distant, intelligent (if introverted)

Graphical Representations

eBTSA

Basal Left

Strong basal left gives good ability in routine, sequential, process skills.

Detailed, structured, ordered, efficient, dependable, reliable, builds and maintains orderly foundations.

Follows instructions, does things by the book, step-by-step.

Communicates in writing, detailed. Meets deadlines through following

schedules and processes. Disciplined. Good attention to detail. Can appear labored, bureaucratic, or

obstinate.

Basal Right Strong basal right gives good abilities in

intuition, feelings, empathy, relationships, connecting with people.

Good active listening skills, understands how people feel, sensitive, picks up moods and feelings.

Singing, dancing, speaking and listening with the eyes, touching, reaching out to people.

Caring, compassionate. Non-verbally able, notices body-language.

Interpersonally good, attentive to relationships and people. Internal language is feelings.

Likes to harmonize with their environment. Can be a soft-touch, making too many

personal sacrifices, and can find it difficult to say no.

Doesn't like to upset people.

Frontal Right Strong frontal right gives good spatial and

internal imaging, innovating and adapting. Can visualize, conceptualize, (eg good at

packing a car boot/trunk. Able to grasp whole pictures, themes, from vague outlines or ideas. relates to cartoons and models and caricatures.

They file visually - where they can see things, in stacks.

Attentive to new ideas. Uses language to think out loud. Uses

metaphors and word pictures. Expressive, at times looking within themselves

to find or examine how best to paint the next word-picture.

Enthusiastic and likes change. Gets bored. Can appear out of step, whacky, off-the-wall. Quirky sense of humor.

At times to others can appear to have 'lost touch with reality'. Can change for change's sake. Good starters, not good finishers.

Frontal Left Strong frontal left gives good analytical skills. Good at mathematics. Uses signage and labels to

analyze and store data Physical and mental data storage. Non-emotional. Uses critical analysis to assess causes and effects,

to make decisions and announce actions to meet goals. Results orientated. Calculates and uses diagnostic thinking.

Logical, good at verbal argument. tactics, goal-setting and goal achievement.

Manages resources to achieve objectives. Uses operational principles.

Communicates in concise no-nonsense terms. Can be seen as cold and manipulating, uncaring,

unfeeling. Puts the task before people. Will bend rules. Will make new rules. Not strongly creative. Not good with people

directly. Not strongly supportive or nurturing.

Double Brain – Left or Right

Double Brain – Frontal or Basal

Tri-Modal & Whole Brain

Frequency of Each Pattern

Who’s Who?

The four most common brain developed patterns are: Double Basal, Double Left, Double Frontal and Double Right. As a rule people with such developed

patterns find and make friends easiest, because there are simply more of them around than any other developed brain patterns.

Percentages

25% Only one highly developed, dominant mode.

55% Two strongly developed modes

15% Tri-modal thinkers

5% Whole-brained

Who’s Who?

Single-brained people and triple-/whole-brained people find it more difficult to find friends, especially close friends, because simply there are not many people who have developed so many modes.

Tri-Modal & Whole BrainFrontal Left

Strong frontal left gives good analytical skills. Good at mathematics. Uses signage and labels to analyze and store data Physical and mental data storage. Non-emotional. Uses critical analysis to assess causes and effects, to make decisions and announce actions to meet goals. Makes judgments. Results orientated. Calculates and uses diagnostic thinking. Logical, good at verbal argument. tactics, goal-setting and goal achievement. Manages resources to achieve objectives. Uses operational principles.Communicates in concise no-nonsense terms.

Can be seen as cold and manipulating, uncaring, unfeeling. Puts the task before people. Will bend rules. Will make new rules. Not strongly creative. Not good with people directly. Not strongly supportive or nurturing.

Careers

Careers

Double lefts Lawyers, physicians, intensive care

nurses Double lefts with frontal left leads

Accountants, MBA’s, electrical engineers, hospital directors, implementer leaders

Double lefts with basal left leads Bankers, machine operators, machine

repairers Basal lefts

Ordering & purchasing clerks, record-keepers, filing clerks, bookkeepers, personnel clerks, supervisors, head nurses, personnel officers, school administrators

Basal rights Receptionists, communications

specialists, pediatric nurses, staff nurses, teachers, staff development specialists, trainers, community & public relations

Double Basals Teachers, head nurses, supervisors

Frontal Rights Entrepreneurs, geologists, architects,

illustrators, woodcraftsmen Double Rights

Organizational development specialists, teachers, emergency doctors, dancers, painters, poets

Careers pg. 2 Double rights with basal right leads

Counselors, psychologists, therapists, actors, musicians, interior decorators

Double rights with frontal right leads

Counselors, psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists

Double frontals Inventors, chemists and chemical

engineers, research scientists, economists, surgeons, hospital administrators, poets, composers, painters

Basal left/frontal rights Journalists, librarians, community

organizers, Triple-brain double right (right

basal leads) with frontal lefts Poets, composers

Triple-brain double left with frontal right leads

Visionary leaders Whole-brained

Leaders of large complex concerns

Relationships

Friends

Most of us select friends who mirror our brain types. We do this because we feel comfortable with people whose mental preferences are like our own. If we find a friend with a near-identical brain type they are likely to become a 'best friend'.

Mates

The search for a marriage and mating partner is different. Rather than try to 'mirror', we tend to choose marriage and mating partners with brain types that will complement our own, that will cover our weaknesses.

Which design did you pick at the beginning? Does your choice match the results of your test?

Basal LeftThe Basal Left pigeonholes everything into a GRID.

Basal RightThe Basal Right goes with the flow, like a WAVE.

Frontal RightThe Frontal Right SPIRALS high, playing with an idea.

Frontal LeftThe Frontal Left focuses in on the target, like an ARROW.

For fun, ask your relative or friend which of these designs they resonate with the most and see what they say.

Note: Use the 4 slides near the beginning of this learning session so they won’t be influenced by the position on this chart. Don’t use this slide!

But they now know that the Brain has 4 Quadrants vs. 2!

Front = Strategic

Basal (Back) = Practical/Tactical

Right Side = Synthesis (Put together)

Left Side = Analysis (Take Apart)

The Brain – 4 Quadrants vs. 2Front = Strategic

Basal (Back) = Practical/Tactical

Right Side = Synthesis (Put together)

Left Side = Analysis (Take Apart)

Resources

www.benziger.org Book: Thriving in Mind by Katherine

Benziger http://www.businessballs.com/benzigerper

sonalityassessment.htm Arlene Taylor, Ph.D.

Background

Info On Test

Also importantly, Benziger's systems are not psychometric tests.

Benziger's work, model and assessment systems are instead based on the measurement of brain function and energy consumption in the brain.

Background

Benziger drew great inspiration from Carl Jung and from the work of Myers Briggs and Hans Eysenck. Her work has also been influenced and supported by the late 20th century scientific developments into brain imaging, using modern scanning technologies - basically using safe equivalents of X-Ray techniques - to actually determine which parts of the brain are being used for various functions and types of thinking ('thinking' here in the general sense of what the brain is doing, not in the 'logical' Jungian sense).

Comparisons With Other Models

For those who are interested in behavioral/thinking style models.

modespecialized

areabrain functions response to stimulus

Jungian function

1 basal leftOrder and habitOrdered proceduresSequential routines

Remembers definitions. What is, is as described.

Sensing

2 basal rightSpiritual experienceRhythm and feelingHarmony

Picks up emotional tone and the presence or absence of harmony (including harmony between people). What is, is how we feel about it.

Feeling

3 frontal rightInternal imagingMetaphor and imaginationExpressiveness

Sees the essence of things, in pictures and metaphors. What is, is something meaning or enabling something else.

Intuition

4 frontal leftStructural analysisPrioritizing and logicMathematics

Converts into logical results or effects. What is, leads to, or produces results.

Thinking

Here’s an overview of the quadrants and for those of you interested in comparison to Jung’s Model, see the far right column.

Comparison Chart

Comparison Chart 2Benziger brain quadrant

Benziger's describing characteristics examples

Jungian 'function' or 'attitude'

frontal leftanalytical, objective, principles, standards, criteria, critiques

Thinking

basal leftrealistic, down-to-earth, practical, sensible, the past

Sensing

basal rightsubjective, personal, values intimacy, sees extenuating circumstances, humane, sees harmony

Feeling

frontal righthunches, speculative, fantasy, imaginative, the future

Intuition

  behaviour directed inwardly to understand and manage self and experience

Introversion

  behaviour directly externally, to influence outside factors and events

Extraversion

Comparison Chart 3

Irwin Thompson's Archetypes in History (c 1970)

Hunter military general frontal left

Leader administrative leader basal left

Shaman spiritual leader basal right

Fool leader in impossible situations front right 

Comparison Chart 4

DISC/Inscape/Thomas International/Performax etc (common usage in business since 1980's)

Dominanceauthoritative, decision-making, results-driven

double frontal, extraverted*

Influencemotivates, inspires, enthuses, leads, persuades

double right, extraverted

Steadiness reliable, listens, follows routines and rules double basal, introverted

Compliance detailed, critical thinking, accurate double left, introverted 

Comparison Chart 5Carl Jung - Four Functions (c 1930)

Thinkinganalytic, objective, principles, standards, criteria, critiques

frontal left

Sensing past, realistic, down-to-earth, practical, sensible basal left

Feelingsubjective, personal, valuing intimacy, extenuating circumstances, humane, harmony

basal right

Intuitionhunches, futures, speculative, fantasy, imaginative

front right

Introversionbehaviour directed inwardly to understand and manage self and experience

 

Extraversionbehaviour directed externally, to influence outside factors and events